Amritsar Tourism Police ‘eludes’ tourists
Amritsar, October 15
The Amritsar Tourism Police (ATP), launched with much fanfare about three years ago, has disappeared into oblivion with only signboards and kiosks reminding about its existence at places of tourist interest in the holy city.
The Amritsar Tourism Police post near Golden Temple lies
vacant in Amritsar on Friday Photo: Vishal Kumar

Eco-rickshaw hits holy city roads
Amritsar, October 15
Fifty-five-year-old Jasbir Singh, who has been plying a cycle-rickshaw for past two decades in
Amritsar, finds the new eco-friendly rickshaw lighter to ply and easy to own in comparison to the conventional one.
Jasbir Singh plies his new eco-friendly rickshaw in Amritsar. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Rousing welcome awaits golden girl Mandeep today
Cheema Khurd (Tarn Taran), October 15
The joy of the family of athlete Mandeep Kaur, residing in this border village, knows no bounds over her winning the gold medal in the 4x400m relay race in the recently concluded 19th Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi.

Kisan Mela: Farmers get precious lessons in farming
Amritsar, October 15
Baljit Singh of Khwali village knows all about the new seed varieties for Basmati rice. Thanks to the Kissan Mela organised by the agriculture wing of the district administration at the Guru Nanak Stadium premises here.

No more boozed parties in public
Amritsar, October 15
Next time if you happen to be taking liquor at a public place, particularly near a liquor vend, or near an on-road juice or food joint or just boozing away on the road while accompanying a marriage party, then mind it; you are under surveillance of the police.

“People used to invite us to their homes dressed as Lord Rama, Laxmana and Sita where they even touched our feet and offer fruits and gifts,” said Raman Banti (27), who has been performing the role of Sita for the past 10 years.

Artistes perform during Ram Leela in Amritsar. Photo: Vishal Kumar

Anti-party activities not to be tolerated: Brahmpura
Tarn Taran, October 15
Action would be taken against anybody found indulging in anti-party activities, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat and Disciplinary Action Committee of the SAD Chairman Ranjit Singh Brahmpura said today.

Amritsar, October 15
The Amritsar Tourism Police (ATP), launched with much fanfare about three years ago, has disappeared into oblivion with only signboards and kiosks reminding about its existence at places of tourist interest in the holy city.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had launched the Amritsar Tourism Police with much fanfare on January 31, 2008.

The 30-member squad of the tourism police was supposed to protect tourists from harassment by touts and help them in hiring transportation and lodging services. Its officers, rank and file were said to have been carefully picked up keeping orientation and work requirements in mind.

The Golden Temple has a “kiosk” of the tourism police on one of its entrances at Chowk Ghanta Ghar. Its dark interior and pitiable condition discourages tourists to go ahead with their queries. Similarly, dismal condition is found at the tourism police centres located at railway station and Rajasansi International Airport.

Members of the tourism police are supposed to assist the tourists arriving at the Golden Temple, Attari border, railway station, airport and bus terminal round the clock.

There is no way the tourism police could be distinguished from the rest of the policemen. They must be wearing a different set of uniform or having a badge on their shoulders to make the tourists comfortable to approach them for solving their problems.

A visit to the Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh revealed that a couple from Argentine was involved in haggling for fares with auto-rickshaw drivers and rickshaw-pullers with a bunch of policemen standing nearby without bothering about it.

They are also expected to be present at vital tourist places like malls, clubs, etc, to protect visitors from pickpockets, eve-teasing, molestation and drugging. However, these crimes do come to light often.

About four months back, a bag of a woman from Finland was snatched while she was travelling in a rickshaw at a busy retail market centre on Lawrence Road. Earlier, in the first half of 2008, two foreign nationals, one French and the other Nepalese, had become the targets of the snatchers, while an NRI woman had allegedly lost her life while trying to save her bag from the snatchers.

A senior functionary of the hospitality industry said these cases were tip of the iceberg as majority of the cases went unreported. Police officials with fear of reputation being tarnished, attempt to sweep these cases under the carpet as they know that the tourists would not return.

The members of the ATP are expected to lend helping hand to tourists in their problems pertaining to transport, accommodation and information. However, its performance has been rated to be far from satisfactory.

Meanwhile, the announcement of setting up of the Amritsar Tourism Development Board with assistance from the United Nations Tourism Development Programme still remains a distant dream.

Amritsar, October 15
Fifty-five-year-old Jasbir Singh, who has been plying a cycle-rickshaw for past two decades in
Amritsar, finds the new eco-friendly rickshaw lighter to ply and easy to own in comparison to the conventional one.

To promote this modified rickshaw in the city, the Amritsar administration has given its nod to carry advertisement panels on its, a special loan pattern and an accidental insurance for
the operators.

Deputy Commissioner K.S. Pannu said the income generated through advertisements would go to the rickshaw-pullers. “It would be an additional income for the rickshaw-puller. Talks are on with a number of companies for giving advertisements,” he said.

When Jasbir Singh was told about this offer, he was excited. “Now my dream to own a rickshaw is not far. Earlier I used to shell out between Rs 35 and Rs 45 per day as rent, but now I would have to pay back an instalment of Rs 500 per month. I will earn some extra money from the
advertisement panel,” he
said. He has a family of four to support.

The district administration has tied up with certain banks to offer special easy loan. The aspirants for this vehicle would have to furnish cross guarantee formality to
avail loan.

“The rickshaw would cost about Rs 9,000. We have tied up with Punjab National Bank and the Oriental Bank of Commerce which have offered to extend loans at 4 per cent rate of interest. We have received more than 50 applications. Presently we have been getting it manufactured from a Delhi-based company but seeing its popularity, six local cycle-rickshaw manufacturers have offered to make an improved version of the eco-rickshaw. The market competition would force its rate to come down,” Pannu said.

In another first move, the administration has proposed to introduce an accidental insurance scheme for the eco-rickshaw pullers wherein they would have to pay an annual premium of just Rs 50 to be the beneficiary of an assured amount of Rs 1
lakh, to be claimed by his kin in the case of accidental death of
the bearer.

Amritsar, October 15
Streamlining traffic flow in the 410 metre area around the Golden Temple would be the priority of the Amritsar administration.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today ordered administrative officials to regulate traffic, keeping in view the huge tourist footfall for the Golden Temple, in this part of the city, within four weeks.

The high court has also directed officials to put forth a ‘fair and final’ proposal for traffic regulation, while taking into confidence the residents and the trading fraternity, living in the Hall
Bazar, Katra Jaimal Singh, Katra Sher Singh and Dharam Singh Market, the approach areas for the Golden Temple. The officials would have to submit their proposal report on November 16. The district administration, along with municipal authorities and the police wing, have implemented ‘no parking zone’ from Phuwara Chowk in Dharam Singh Market to the Golden Temple.

Besides this, five paid parking zones in the Hall bazaar area have been designated for visiting customers to regulate traffic snarls. But all these decisions have invited the wrath of residents, particularly traders, who anticipated that these restrictions would hamper their business. Even various trading associations filed affidavits in the high court to get all barricades - put up between the roads to act as a shelter for vehicles - razed.

OfficialSpeak
Deputy Commissioner Kahn Singh Pannu:

The high court has given us another date for submission of the final proposal to be implemented to deal with the traffic chaos around the Golden Temple area. We would hold deliberations with traders to sort out the issue. A proposal to form a sub-committee, comprising officials as well as traders, or residents, too, can be mooted to settle the issue amicably, whereby preserving the interests of the commuters too.

Municipal Commissioner DPS
Kharbanda:

The bottom line is that it would be the liability of the administration, MC and the police department to execute the plan for regulating traffic. Our prime step would now be to schedule meeting with traders. Moreover, it is for a common cause and I hope they too would be giving us their cooperation.

Cheema Khurd (Tarn Taran), October 15
The joy of the family of athlete Mandeep Kaur, residing in this border village, knows no bounds over her winning the gold medal in the 4x400m relay race in the recently concluded 19th Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi.

Mandeep Kaur, who is also known as Mandeep Cheema, after her education up to class VI from her native village was admitted to Government Girls Secondary School, Kairon, in class VII.

Mandeep’s father Jasbir Singh, while talking to Amritsar Plus, said that being a marginal farmer, he withdrew his elder daughter from the school to meet the expenses of Mandeep. She had to stay in the school hostel to take part in the games for practice in the late evening or early morning.

The family of Mandeep has been living in the farmhouse in the village.

Sarabjit Kaur, mother of Mandeep, said the family, except her father, was not happy at the birth of Mandeep as she was the 11th female issue of the family, which includes her uncle.

The members of the family have been celebrating the victory of Mandeep for the past four days by performing giddha daily in the evening. Villagers of the area are eagerly awaiting Mandeep’s coming home. Jasbir said she would be coming home on Saturday.

Dalbir Singh Deol, Principal of Government Girls Secondary School, Kairon, said that Mandeep Kaur would be honoured the same day. Mandeep took her education up to class XII from this school and from this institution she rose to perform at the international level.

PRIDE OF PLACE

Tarn Taran is perhaps the only district in the country which has three athletes who won medals in the 19th Commonwealth Games.

Gurpreet Singh of Naushehra Pannuan, 15km from here, bagged two gold medals in the games in 25m and 10m pistol events pairing with Vijay Kumar and Omkar Singh, respectively.

Gurmeet’s father Manjit Singh and mother Charanjit Kaur are awaiting their son’s visit home. Many social organisations have chalked out programmes to honour Gurpreet Singh.

Ravinder Singh Gill, president of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Social and Cultural Welfare Club, Dhotian, said a function would be organised to honour Gurpreet Singh.

Residents of another border village, Sabhra, 50 km from here, in this district are awaiting Harwant Kaur who clinched silver medal in discus throw. The family of Harwant is known as the “family of international athletes”. Her first aunt (father’s sister) Arjuna awardee Gurmit Kaur is an Olympian. The family’s other eight members are also athletes of the national level.

Amritsar, October 15
Baljit Singh of Khwali village knows all about the new seed varieties for Basmati rice. Thanks to the Kissan Mela organised by the agriculture wing of the district administration at the Guru Nanak Stadium premises here.

“It was quite exciting to know about the discovery of a new variety - 29-67 for Basmati rice. I came to know that it would yield over 25 quintal of produce in an acre, whereas I was continuing sowing 29-32 seed variety, which provided me with just nine quintals of produce. Even sugarcane produce can be obtained with less wastage, I discovered here”, said Baljit, who owns around 20 killas of land on the Ram Tirath Road.

Like Baljit, Paramjit Singh and Tarsem Singh came all the way from Chanan village, to gain knowledge about the new methods of cultivating vegetables and to know that they would not be fleeced by private agencies.

This mela, presided over by Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sohan Singh Thandal, brought with it various schemes being floated by the agriculture department. Farmers were also discouraged from using pesticides excessively and encouraged to preserve micro-nutrients of the agricultural land.

The mela was attended largely by farmers hailing from Majitha, Attari, Jandiala, Ajnala and Rayya villages.

During his address, the Chief Parliamentary Secretary emphasised that farmers should adopt the methodology prescribed by experts to multiply their produce.

He also told farmers to make full use of the improved varieties of seeds, provided through their respective panchayats. He also apprised them about innovative farming equipments like Rotavators and Happyseeders, to reduce their cost of production, besides preserving the natural yield.

Dr Paramjeet Singh Sandhu, chief agriculture officer-cum-project director, said a survey revealed that wheat would be sown in an area of around 1.85 lakh hectares in the district.

“This implies that our target should not be anything less than 7.5 lakh tonne of produce in the district alone. We have inititated this programme to apprise the farmers about the new techniques and improved seed, so that they would be able to produce good quality as well as quantity of yield at less production cost”, he said.

The experts also advocated less use of insecticides or pesticides and stressed on adopting the organic way of farming, thereby being contributors in preserving the environment from getting polluted.

Dr BS Dhillon, deputy director, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, said our teams undergo intensive research and development for years together before recommending a particular variety of seeds, its dose and quantity and their department experts were there to solve the various queries of farmers.

Meanwhile, a substantial number of stalls depicting the various varieties of seeds, new techniques of farming, horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry and sugar produce were there by government agencies, which included Krishi Vigyan Kender, IFFCO, KRIBHCO and Punjab Agriculture University.

Amritsar, October 15
Next time if you happen to be taking liquor at a public place, particularly near a liquor vend, or near an on-road juice or food joint or just boozing away on the road while accompanying a marriage party, then mind it; you are under surveillance of the police.

From today onwards, the police has imposed prohibition orders under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, against drinking in public places. Any person contravening these orders shall be punished under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. The orders shall remain in force up to December 12, unless withdrawn earlier.

The Police Department has also chalked out some stipulated conditions for wine shops and juice bars which have been instructed not to let their customers be stationed outside their joints in an unauthorised manner and to instantly inform the Police Control Room or the police beat concerned, if some undesirable activity takes place.

The vend owners have been directed to install CCTVs with sufficient number of cameras and recording systems to cover up to 50-metre area in front of vends. The CCTVs should monitor anyone consuming liquor or facilitating consumption of liquor or any unauthorised vendor stationed in the coverage area. This CCTV system should become operational within 45 days.

The recording system would have to preserve a digital record of CCTV coverage for not less than 10 days and a copy the CCTV coverage on a CD on a daily basis would have to be handed over to the beat constable against proper receipt in a register to be maintained at the liquor vend. The vend owner would have to display prominently at least two bilingual signboards, mentioning that drinking in public places is an offence and standing or unauthorised vendors outside shops are strictly prohibited. Telephone numbers of the nearest police station, too, would have to be mentioned on the signboards.

OfficialSpeak:

Police Commissioner Parampal Singh Sidhu: Drinking in public is a nuisance with serious potential which results in brawls and quarrels, causing serious injuries, death and damage to public and private property. This affects the peace and tranquillity of the area and creates problems in the maintenance of law and order. A large number of complaints are being received regarding the fact that people purchasing liquor from vends often start consuming the same in front of the liquor vend or at other public places.

Vendors selling eatables and juices, at times, also station themselves in an unauthorised manner outside their shops, which further facilitates undesirable activities. At times even members accompanying a wedding procession have been noticed drinking liquor on the roads. These sort of offenders would also be booked.

“People used to invite us to their homes dressed as Lord Rama, Laxmana and Sita where they even touched our feet and offer fruits and gifts,” said Raman Banti (27), who has been performing the role of Sita for the past 10 years. He is associated with the Bhagwati Ram Leela Group which set the stage in the Khandwala area, near Chheharta on every Durga Sharad Navratras.

Interestingly, they are not professional artistes but still they successfully express every emotion and strike a chord with the audience which largely comprises women and children. For them, the

financial awards are less important than the appreciation by the audience. “What matters us are love and respect given by the public and it is very satisfying to give happiness to them,” said Banti.

Raman, who is a tailor by profession, revealed that before performing on the stage, they do rehearsals for at least a month. “I still remember the days when my cousin invited to watch Ram Leela and asked me to join for rehearsals. Due to my ‘photogenic’ face, they offered me to perform the role of Sita and after that it has become a habit for me to participate and give my best during the 10-day Ram Leela,” he said.

Jagdish Jogi, a retired Food and Civil Department employee, has a reason for his ardent attachment. “I and my son Sandeep used to do the roles of Dashrath and Rama, respectively. Unfortunately, I lost my son in an accident last year but I promised him to continue to perform in Ram

Leela otherwise it would have become impossible to remain attached with this stage after his death,” he said. He is also associated

with the group for the past 45 years.

Talking about the change that has taken place during the past four decades, Ajay Thapa, a retired Municipal Corporation employee, said Ram Leela had undergone a change with the introduction of technologies like sound systems, fancy lights for special effects, DJ, cordless mikes, etc. to make it more catchy and entertaining to attract the audience.

But this has also raised the cost of organising the programme. “Earlier the whole 10-day event cost us around Rs 8,000, nowadays it varies

from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000,” said Thapa.

Yet the number of people coming to enjoy the drama had drastically come down with the passage of time so was the quantity of stages being set due to rising costs for organising the event.

Tarn Taran, October 15
Action would be taken against anybody found indulging in anti-party activities, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat and Disciplinary Action Committee of the SAD Chairman Ranjit Singh Brahmpura said today.

Brahmpura was replying to the queries of newsmen after presiding over the district-level farmers training camp organised by the Agriculture Department at Chabal, 16 km from here.

Brahmpura said the SAD was a disciplined party and anti-party activities would not be tolerated at any cost.

Agriculture specialists advised the farmers not to use excess fertilisers and insecticides as their excess use was making the land, air, atmosphere poisonous. Technical knowhow for the rabi crops was given to the farmers in the camp.

Deputy Commissioner Khushi Ram and Punjab State Warehouse Corporation Chairman Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke were among the other dignitaries who addressed the camp.

Amritsar, October 15
The Pingalwara society raised a voice against the burning of stubble of crops, thereby polluting the environs as well as damaging the fertility of the cultivable land.

Dr Inderjeet Kaur, president, All-India Pingalwara Society, said despite ban imposed by the district administration, the farmers did not hesitate to burn the stubble, little realising that this would also be damaging the micro nutrients of their land.

During April-May when wheat is harvested and during October-November when paddy is harvested, this menace is rampant. Apparently, due to some political compulsions, the proposed Punjab Prohibition of Burning of Crop Residue Bill-2010 could not see the light of the day.

Rajbir Singh, an organic farming expert, said, “It has been observed that the suspender pesticide matter (SPM), which should not exceed 200 UG/m3 in normal circumstances, shoots up between 499 UG/m3 and 934 UG/m3 after putting the stubble on fire. It will lead to many health hazards like cough, asthma and even tuberculosis.”

The Pingalwara society officials urged the state government to immediately put forth the Bill in the Vidhan Sabha and implement it in the interest of the masses and preserving the cultivation potential of the land.